Method of cleaning and finishing drapes



Oct. 6, 1964 A. H. MASSOP METHOD OF CLEANING AND FINISHING DRAPES FiledOct. 16, 1961 Ill' 2 INVENTOR:

ANTHONY H. MASSOR United States Patent ""ce 3,151,345 METHOD OF CLEANENG AND FINISHING DRAPES Anthony Henry Massop, 331 Rosemmy SE, GrandRapids, Mich. Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,388 Claims. (Cl. 815(l)This invention relates to the cleaning and finishing of drapes.Conventional cleaning procedure involves a tumbling action in a drum ofcleaning solution, and the usual suspension hooks on draperies present aproblem. If left in place, the tumbling action produces a tendency forthe hooks to engage and tear the fabric. To remove and replace the hooksinvolves a tremendous amount of labor, and labor is the principal costdeterminant in cleaning operations.

The present invention provides a procedure which isolates and confinesthe hooks, but does not interfere with the cleaning action. According tothe preferred procedure, the drapes are first folded at the upper endapproximately in the middle so that the fold line is parallel to thelength. The opposite edges are thus brought together; and in thisposition, the upper portion of the drape is rolled so that the foldappears at the outer part of the roll. The fold is made so that thehooks on the drapery are on the inside of the fold, and the resultingrolled portion therefore leaves none of the hooks exposed. Preferably,this rolled portion is secured by placing it in a bag of nylon mesh,with the bag having a draw string which can be tied to hold the assemblytogether. In this condition, the drape can be placed in a conventionaldry-cleaning machine without fear that the hooks will engage the fabric.The length of the bag (and the consequent placement of the draw string)can be selected to produce a resulting crease at a point which is easilyreachable by the conventional pressing equipment without the necessityof special operations. The several features of the invention will bediscussed in further detail through an analysis of the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawmg:

FIGURE 1 presents a perspective view of a conventional drape showing thenormal position of suspension hooks along the upper edge.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the manner in which the drape is folded and rolledprior to the installation of the retaining bag.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the completed installation of the permeable bag onthe rolled drape.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a recommended form of retaining bag.

Referring to the drawing, the upper portion of a conventional drape isindicated generally at 10. The top hem area 11 is provided with a seriesof spaced suspension hooks 1246, and the pleats 1740 are normallypositioned opposite these hooks. In preparing the drape iii forcleaning, the upper portion is folded at 21 (refer to FIGURE 2), and theresulting folded drape is rolled. The rolling is begun at the edges 22and 23, and it will be noted that the fold 21 is made in such a mannerthat the hooks 24 are disposed on the inside. The roll may then beinserted in the permeable bag 25 and confined as shown in FIGURE 3 bytightening and knotting the draw string 26. A conventional connectingdevice may be used in place of a knot, if desired. The upper portion ofthe drape may be gathered in some other form than the rollingillustrated in FIGURE 2, but this has been found to be the preferablearrangement for compacting the drapery material in such a manner that itis easily secured without exposing any of the hooks. The material ofwhich the bag 25 is made is preferably of an open- 3,151,345 PatentedGet. 6, 1964 mesh nylon, and this construction provides adequatepermeability and access for the cleaning solution to the drape withoutsacrificing the confinement necessary to eliminate the danger of exposedhooks.

The length 27 of the bag 25 should be selected with the pressingoperation in mind. The length of the hem 11 determines the axialpositioning of the pleat extensions 2831. If the crease in the drapecaused by the presence of the draw string 26 is too near the hem 11, itbecomes very diificult to apply a standard pressing machine between thepleats, and it is therefore desirable to establish a length 27 ofapproximately 12 to 14 inches in order to position the crease at a pointfar enough down from the hem so that it is easily reachable by theconventional presser end without requiring a special construction. Thespace between the adjacent pleats on the drape will also influence thisposition at which the standard pressing machine can be applied, but ithas been found that a bag of the length suggested above (assuming theupper end or" the drape to be inserted for the full depth of the bag)will be adequate so that special pressing operations will not benecessary.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A method of cleaning and finishing drapes that are provided with agroup of spaced suspension hooks adjacent the upper edge, said methodcomprising: folding said drapes parallel to the normally verticaldimension thereof with the suspension hooks on the inside of theresulting fold; rolling the upper portion of said drapes about an axiswhich extends substantially vertically when said drapes are suspended bysaid hooks from a support, said axis being substantially parallel to thesaid fold, with the said fold on the exterior of the resulting roll;inserting and securing exclusively the rolled upper portion in apermeable bag; cleaning said drapes; and removing the said bag.

2. A method of cleaning and finishing drapes that are provided with agroup of spaced suspension hooks adjacent the upper edge, said methodcomprising: folding said drapes parallel to the normally verticaldimension thereof with the suspension hooks on the inside of theresulting fold; rolling the upper portion of said drapes about an axiswhich extends substantially vertically when said drapes are suspended bysaid hooks from a support, said axis being substantially parallel to thesaid fold, with the said fold on the exterior of the resulting roll;inserting and securing exclusively the rolled upper portion in apermeable bag; and cleaning said secured drapes.

3. A method of cleaning and finishing drapes that are provided with agroup of spaced suspension hooks adjacent the upper edge, said methodcomprising: folding said drapes parallel to the normally verticaldimension thereof with the suspension hooks on the inside of theresulting fold; rolling the upper portion of said drapes about an axiswhich extends substantially vertically when said drapes are suspended bysaid hooks from a support, said axis being substantially parallel to thesaid fold; wrapping exclusively the rolled upper portion with permeablematerial; and cleaning said wrapped drapes.

4. A method of cleaning and finishing drapes that are provided with agroup of spaced suspension hooks adjacent the upper edge, said methodcomprising: rolling the upper portion of said drapes about an axis whichextends substantially vertically when said drapes are suspended by saidhooks from a support, said axis being substantially parallel to thenormally vertical dimension thereof With the said suspension hooks onthe inside of the resulting roll; confining exclusively the rolled upperportion with permeable material; and cleaning said confined drapes.

5. A method of cleaning and finishing drapes that are 5 References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,952 Sullivan Nov.5, 1901 1,231,165 Jay June 26, 1917 2,112,627 Kohnle Mar. 29, 1938 OTHERREFERENCES National Institute of Dry Cleaning Bulletin Service,

10 Technical No. T-79, Aug. 14, 1939, 2 pages.

Div. 43.)

- Laundry Age, Nov. 25, 1951, page 26.

(Copy in

1. A METHOD OF CLEANING AND FINISHING DRAPES THAT ARE PROVIDED WITH AGROUP OF SPACED SUSPENSION HOOKS ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE, SAID METHODCOMPRISING: FOLDING SAID DRAPES PARALLEL TO THE NORMALLY VERTICALDIMENSION THEREOF WITH THE SUSPENSION HOOKS ON THE INSIDE OF THERESULTING FOLD; ROLLING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID DRAPES ABOUT AN AXISWHICH EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY WHEN SAID